Project Run and Play March Challenge -The Knot dress

This year, Project Run and Play is doing a monthly sew-along challenge and this month, the sew along pattern they chose is The Knot Dress. This pattern was designed by Jessica from Me Sew Crazy and is offered as a free download here.

Jessica is on one of the talented ladies behind the super cool magazine STYLO. I've always liked the general aesthetic of that magazine and I enjoy the projects and other fun stuff they include in their magazine. If you haven't checked out the magazine yet, make sure you do it here :)

Anyway, this is what my final version of the dress looks like. I just love it and now I want one for myself ;D

If you would like to know how I made it, keep reading.

At first, I was planning on sewing the pattern just how it is, but I remembered my daughter doesn't like to wear dresses that have big knots or bows on the shoulders or on the back. For that reason, I decided to modify the bodice of the pattern quiet a bit, so that it would a dress she would love to wear. 

My daughter usually wears size 5, but since the fit of this specific pattern is more relaxed, I downsized to size 4 and based my design on that. 

Modifications:
The first thing I did was to lower the neckline just a little bit, so that it would have more of a scoop shape. I also narrowed the bodice, where the shoulder ties would go and cut it at the shoulder. I also added a separate strap on each side. The straps are attached at the shoulder seam and I added enclosed ruffles from the mid arm cycle to the middle of the white shoulder strap. I wanted the two straps to cross at the back, so I made them long enough to cross at the back.

On the back bodice pattern, I cut it straight across (like a rectangle) right before the arm cycle line starts. I also added a 1" elastic at the top back bodice to give it a more fitted look. On the back bodice, I also made two button wholes 2" from the side seams, so the straps would cross on the back, go in the button wholes and tie in a bow at the middle.

For the skirt, I just cut 2 skirt pieces twice as wide as the bodice, gathered it and sewed it to the bodice. The skirt turned out to be full and more of a maxi length, which is the style my daughter loves!

My daughter really loved how the dress turned out and has not taken it off since then. 

I hope you enjoyed my blog post. Thank you for visiting and come back soon, as I have I few other projects I will be sharing within the next couple of weeks. 

-Maria <3